Malt-kiln.



0. H. LUEBKERT.

MALT KILN.

APFLIGATIUN FILED MAR. 6, 1908. .940, 1 72. Patented Nov. 16, 1909.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

0. H. LUEBK-ERT.

MALT KILN. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6, 1908.

Patented Nov. 16, 1909.

6 SHEETSSHEET 2.

0. H. LUEBKBRT.

MALT KILN.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. e, 1908 Patented Nov. 16. 1909.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ANDREW Bv GRAQAM 0a. PMD-LIMOBRAHIERS. wnsmucnon. a c.

O. H. LUEBKERT. MALT KILN. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6, 1908.

940, 1 72. Patented Nov. 16, 1909.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

00 no 00o 000 0000 D 0000 :l u 00000 oooooo J 4 i iba monzw. 2. muxm cmmmo un-mcmvusns. wnsmnaron. u c.

0. H. LUEBKERT.

MALT KILN. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6, 1908.

94:0, 1 72. Patented Nov. 16. 1909.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5' 00 000 j c D 0000 N 0000000 :2 0000000 090 0000000000Do I 00000009000 Q @0900 9 99090009009 000000 006000 00000 Q 00000000000090900000 00000000 esooeooooeoeoo' 300000900 1 7, K flMSsasx Q gUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO H. LUEBKERT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO SALAIDIN PNEUMATICMALT- ING CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFILLINOIS.

MALT-KILN.

Patented Nov. 16, 1909.

Application filed March 6, 1908. Serial No. 419,438.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OTTO H. LUEBKERT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Malt-Kilns, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

My invention relates to malting, and has for its object to provide a newand improved malt house or kiln in which the grain under treatment maybe transferred from the germinating compartments to the kiln compartmentby gravity, and in which also the operation of drying may be conductedin such manner as to secure the best results without delaying theprogress of the grain or malt through the house. For example,after thegermination of the grain has been carried to the proper stage it isdesirable that during the first stage of the drying operation the grainbe dried with air of low temperature and afterward subjected to a highertemperature to complete the operation, and by my invention I provide aconstruction by which the drying may be accomplished in the desiredmanner without in any way delaying the progress of the grain orinterfering with the continuous operation of the malt house. This resultis obtained by providing a plurality of kiln or drying chambers orcompartments located side by side,the green malt being placed in one ofsaid compartments, while partially dried malt is in the other,and soarranging the ventilating system that hot dry air is first supplied fromthe furnaces to the partially dried malt and after being mixed with coolair from the furnace room or outside is conducted through the greenmalt. By the time the partially dried malt is fully dried the green maltwill have been partially dried, and by then removing the dried malt andintroducing a fresh supply of green malt in its place the ventilationmay be reversed and hot air directly from the furnace supplied to thepartially dried cool air and conducted through charge of green malt;alternated in this way as each dried charge is removed and a fresh greencharge introduced. The germinating compartment or compartments arearranged above'the kiln compartment or compartments, means being prothenew the ventilation being malt and afterward mixed with vided by whichthe grain from the germinating compartments may be delivered by gravityto the kiln compartment in the general manner Serial No. 415,566, filedFebruary 12, 1908. In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 is alongitudinal vertical section; Fig. 2 is a cross-section on line 2-2 ofFig. 3; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1', Fig. 4 isa horizontal section on line d-d of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a horizontalsection on line 55 of Fig. 1; Fig. (3 is a horizontal section on line6-6 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 7 is a partial horizontal section on lines 77 ofFig. 1.

described in my application,

eferring to the drawings,-89 indicate 1 the end walls of the building,and 10-11 the side walls thereof. The building may be of any suitablesize and shape.

12 indicates a partition wall parallel with and adjacent to the Wall 9and extending from the ground up through several stories, as shown inFig. 1.

A indicates the basement, which contains furnaces 13,--said furnaceshaving adjacentthereto fresh air flues 141 having valved openings 15 foradmitting fresh air to mix with the hot air from the furnace.

B indicates the sprout floor or story,'\vhich is immediately above thebasement and has an imperforate floor 16, as shown in Fig. 1.

17 indicates an air-mixing chamber, which is on the sprout floor andextends longitudinally thereof immediately over the furnace 13 and fines1 1, from which it receives hot and cold air see Fig. 2). Saidair-mixing chamber is preferably formed by inclined partitions 18forming a ti-shaped chamber which extends longitudinally of the sproutfloor to a point near the end wall 8, where the partitions 18 join withtransverse partitions 19 which extend to the side Walls 1.0-11 of thebuilding, so that the air-mixing chamber 17 is expanded to occupy theentire width of the building near the end wall 8, as shown in Fig. 6.

20 indicates an opening in the basement wall for admitting fresh air tothe basement around the furnaces, as shown in Fig. 2.

21 indicates steam heater arranged in front of the opening 20 forregulating the temperature of the incoming air.

2223 indicate openings in the floor 16 of the sprout chamber, saidopenings having valves Eli- 25, respectively, by which they may beopened or closed to admit or shut off direct communication between thebasement and the sprout chamber (see Fig. 2).

22 -23 indicate openings in the side wall of the building, as best shownin Fig. 6,

through which external air may be admitted to the sprout chamber to mixwith the air coming from the basement .or furnace room through valves 24or '25 when the air from the latter source is too warm. By means of theopenings 22*23 external air is admitted without passing through theheaters 21 shown in Fig. 2. The openings 2223 are provided with valves24 25 as shown in Fig. 2.

CC indicate kiln compartment rooms on the floor above the sprout floor,said compartment rooms having kiln compartments 2627, respectively, eachprovided with perforated floors 2829, respectively. The compartments2627 are provided with the usual stirring apparatus, such, for example,as that shown in my application above referred to.

3031, respectively, indicate fiues leading from the air-mixing chamber17 to the kiln compartment rooms CC, respectively, the flue 30 beingprovided with a valve 32 and the flue 31 with a valve 33, as shown inFig. 5, in which the valve 32 is shown as being closed and the valve 33as being open.

34' indicates gangways at the ends of the kiln compartments 2627, asshown in Figs. 1 and 5.

36-37 indicate openings from the kiln compartment rooms CG,respectively, to malt spouts 38 which conduct the finished malt from theseveral compartments by gravity to an elevator 39 by which the malt maybe delivered. Said elevator also serves to supply the barley to thesteep tanks, as described in my application above referred to.

40 indicates a partition wall which separates the two kiln compartmentrooms (bCC 41-42 indicate exhaust fiues which lead, respectively, fromthe kiln compartment rooms CC to an exhaust chamber 43 at the top of thebuilding, in which is placed a fan 44, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Saidflues 4142 are provided with suitable valvesas 4546shown in Figs. 1 and4, by which the air may be drawn from either kiln compartment room, asdesired.

By this construction it will be apparent that by opening valve 33 influe 31 and closing valve 32 in flue 30 the mixed hot and cold air maybe caused to pass directly into the upper part of kiln compartment room0. I f at the same time valve 45 in exhaust fine 41 is open and valve 46in exhaust flue 42 is closed the air admitted to kiln compartment C willbe caused to flow downward through the malt in compartment 27 to thesprout floor, where cool air from the furnace room or the outside isadded, thence across and up through the perforated floor of compartment26, passing upward through the malt in such compartment and out extionof hot air derived directly from the air-mixing chamber, while the maltin the other kiln compartment is treated by upward ventilation of thesame air mixed with cool air. The sprout chamber serves as amixer bywhich the air passing downward through the perforated floors of the kilncompartments is thoroughly mixed with air entering the sprout chamberthrough valves 2425 or valves 2425 before it passes up through theperforated floor of the adjoiningkiln compartment, since the airentering the sprout chamber in the several ways indicated is compelledto flow around to the other side thereof before it passes up through theperforated floor of the kiln compartment, as illustrated by the arrowsin Fig. 6. By providing the several inlets for air, as above described,the temperature of the air compartment floors may be very accuratelyregulated. The flow of air may be alternated at pleasure by simplyadjusting the several valves. When finished, the malt may be dischargedthrough the spouts 38.

D-D and EE indicate lower and upper germinating compartments arranged onfloors successively above the kiln compartment floor, as best shown inFig. 2. Said floors contain, respectively, germinating compartments 47,48, 49 and 50, each of which is provided with a perforated floor 51.

52, 53, 54 and 55 indicate, respectively, the spaces or chambers underthe compartments 474849-50.

56 indicates an imperforate floor separating the kiln compartments fromthe lower tier of germinating compartments, as shown in Fig. 2.

57 indicates an exhaust air flue preferably arranged centrally of thebuilding, as shown in Fig. 4, and extending upward from the fioor 56 toan exhaust air room 58 having a fan 59 for causing air to circulatethrough the germinating compartments, as hereinafter described.

60 indicates an opening affording communication between the space 52below com partment 47 and the exhaust air flue 57. Said opening isprovided with a valve 61. 626364 indicate similar openings connectingthe exhaust air flue with the spaces 535455 under the other germinatingcompartments, said openings having valves passing upward through thekiln 65-66-67, respectively, as shown in Fig. 2.

6869 indicate upper and lower attemperator rooms having attemperators 70for supplying fresh attemperated air tothe ger- I the malt in saidchambers and intermediate minating compartments.

71 indicates an opening in the floor of the attemperator room 69 whichadmits air from said attemperator room to the upper germinatingcompartment rooms shown in Fig. 3. In like manner 72 indicates a similaropening between the upper germinating compartment rooms E-E and thelower compartment rooms D-D, as shown in Fig. 4:. Thus attemperated airis admitted to both tiers of germinating compartment rooms, and may becaused to circulate through the grain in the several germinatingcompartments by operating the fan 59, thereby causing the air to flowdown through the grain in the several compartments to the spaces belowsuch compartments and thence out through the exhaustair flue 57.

3 Y means of the valves 61, 65, 66 and 67 the circulation of air throughany particular compartment may be controlled as desired.

737 t indicate spouts or ducts through which malt may be delivered fromthe several germinating compartments to the kiln compartments. asdescribed in my application above referred to.

By the construction described the circulation of air through thegerminating compartments is entirely independent of the circulationthrough the malt in the kiln compartments, so that the drying of thegrain, as well as its germination, may be controlled as circumstancesmay require. Furthermore, when germination has advanced to the desiredstage the malt may be delivered to the kiln by gravity and the operationof drying conducted in the manner hereinafter described.

75 indicates the usual steep tanks which may be provided with anysuitable means for delivering steeped grain to the germinatingcompartments, as, for example, the apparatus described in my applicationhereinbefore referred to.

The elevator 39 is provided with a conduit 7 6 for delivering the grainto the steep tanks and also with a connection 77 by which it may deliverfinished malt to any suitable means that may be provided for carrying itaway.

That which I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is,-

1. A. malt kiln having a plurality of compartment chambers arranged sideby side, means for heating air, means for causing the heated air to passsuccessively through the malt in said chambers and intermediate meansfor mixing cool air therewith.

2. A malt kiln having a plurality of compartment chambers, means forheating air, means for causing heated air to pass successively and inopposite directions through E-E, as

means for mixing cool air therewith.

3. A malt kiln having-a plurallty of chambers arranged side by side andhaving compartments provided with perforated floors,

means for hea-tlng alr, means for causing heated air to flow successvely through the malt in said compartments and intermediate means formixing cool air therewith.

4. A malt kiln having a plurality of chambers having compartmentsprovided with perforated floors, means for heating air, means forcausing heated air to flow successively and in opposite directionsthrough the malt in said compartments and intermediate means for mixingcool air therewith.

5. A malt kiln having a plurality of chambers arranged side by side andhaving compartments provided with perforated floors, means for heatingair, fines for conducting heated air to said chambers, exhaust finescommunicating with said chambers, means for causing heated air to passsuccessively through the malt in said chambers and intermediate meansfor mixing cool air therewith.

6. A malt kiln having a plurality of chambers having compartmentsprovided with perforated floors, means for heating air, fines forconducting heated air to said chambers, exhaust flues communicating withsaid chambers, means for causing heated air to pass successively and inopposite directions through the malt in said chambers and intermediatemeans for mixing cool air therewith.

7. A malt kiln having a plurality of chambers arranged side by side andhaving compartments provided with perforated floors, a furnace, anair-mixing chamber, means for supplying air from said mixing chamber tothe malt in said compartments successively and intermediate means formixing cool air therewith.

8. A malt house having a plurality of kiln compartment rooms arrangedside by side, means for supplying heated air successively to the malt insaid rooms, a plurality of germinating compartments above said kilncompartments, and means for delivering malt from said germinatingcompartments to said kiln compartments.

9. A malt house having a plurality of kiln compartment rooms arrangedside by side, means for supplying heated air successively to the malt insaid rooms, a plurality of germinating compartments above said kilncompartments, and means for delivering malt from said germinatingcompartments to said kiln compartments by gravity.

10. A malt house having a plurality of kiln compartment rooms arrangedside by side, means for supplying heated air successively to the malt insaid rooms, a plurality of germinating compartments above said kilncompartments, means for delivering malt from said germinatingcompartments to said kiln compartments, and independent means forcausing a circulation of air through the grain in the germinating compartments.

11. A malt house having a plurality of separate kiln compartment roomson the same floor, means for supplying heated air successively to themalt in said kiln compartment rooms, a plurality of germinatingcompartments above said kiln compartment rooms, and means for deliveringmalt from said germinating compartments to said kiln compartment rooms.

12. A malt house having a plurality of separate kiln compartment roomson the same floor, means for supplying heated air successively to themalt in said kiln compartment rooms, a plurality of germinatingcompartments above said kiln compartment rooms, means for deliveringmalt from said germinating compartments to said kiln compartment rooms,and independent means for causing fresh air to circulate through themalt in the germinating compartments.

13. A malt house having a plurality of separate kiln compartment roomson the same floor, means for supplying heated air successively to themalt in said kiln compartment rooms, a plurality of germinatingcompartments above said kiln compartment rooms, and means for deliveringmalt from said germinating compartments to said kiln compartment roomsby gravity.

1%. A malt kiln having a plurality of compartment chambers arranged sideby side, means for heating air, means for causing heated air to passsuccessively through the malt in said chambers, and means for ad-'mitting external air to the heated air and mixing it therewith.

15. A malt kiln having a plurality of compartment chambers arranged sideby side, means for heating air, means for causing the heated air to passsuccessively through the malt in said chambers, and means for admittingfresh air to said heated air after it passes through one of saidchambers and before it enters the other.

16. A malt kiln having a plurality of chambers having compartments proiided with perforated floors, means for heating air, means for causingheated air to flow suc cessively and in opposite directions through themalt in said compartments, and means for admitting air to and causing itto mix with the heated air after it passes through one of saidcompartments and before it enters the other.

17. A malt kiln having a plurality of com- 18. A malt kiln having aplurality of compartment chambers arranged side by side and havingperforated floors, a chamber :below said perforated floors, means foradmitting heated air to the chamber below said perforated floors, meansfor admitting external air to the latter chamber, and means forintroducing heated air to said compartment chambers from above theperforated floors therein.

19. A malt kiln having a plurality of compartment chambers arranged sideby side and having perforated floors, a chamber below said perforatedfloors, means for heating air, means for delivering heated air to eitherof said compartment chambers from above the perforated floors therein,and means for admitting air to the chamber below said perforated floors.

20. A malt kiln having a plurality of compartment chambers arranged sideby side and having perforated floors, a chamber below said perforatedfloors, means for heating air, means for delivering l eated air toeither of said compartment chambers from above the perforated floorstherein, and means for admitting heated air to the chamber below saidperforated floors.

21. A malt kiln having a plurality of compartment chambers havingperforated floors, a chamber below said perforated floors, means forheating air, means for delivering heated air to either of saidcompartment chambers from above the perforated floors therein, means foradmitting heated air to the chamber below said perforated floors, andmeans for admitting external air to the latter chamber.

22. A malt kiln having a plurality of compartment chambers provided withperforated floors, a chamber below said perforated floors,

means for heating air, means for delivering heated air to either of saidcompartment chambers from above the perforated floors therein, exhaustpassages communicating with said compartment chambers above theperforated floors therein, and an air inlet communicating with thechamber beneath said perforated floors.

OTTO H. LUEBKERT.

Witnesses MINNIE A. HUNTER, J OHN L. JACKSON.

